A CRITICAL ASSESSMENT OF J.S MBITI’S AFRICANS’ CONCEPTION OF TIME


 A CRITICAL ASSESSMENT OF J.S MBITI’S AFRICANS’ CONCEPTION OF TIME

ABSTRACT

      J.S Mbiti contended that Africans perceive time composition of events which must be lived through. He contended further, that one can from such ontology, arrive at the understanding of African philosophical concepts.

        This essay attempted a critical examination of Mbiti's view on Africans' conception of time, and to show that Mbiti's Africans' conception of time, is not key to the understanding of African philosophical concepts.

    The method employed was an in depth analysis of concept of time in African cultures and philosophical argumentation.Mbiti'sAfrican Religions and  Philosophy, Masolo'sAfrican Philosophy in Search for Identity, Ayoade'sTime in Yoruba thought, Oke'sFrom an Ontology to an Epistemology, and Gyekye'sAn Essay on African Philosophical Thought: The Akan Conception Scheme, were studied and analyzed.

    The results of this essay included the following: first, that Mbiti's claim that Africans lack the idea of an extended future is false, that there various time conception on the continent of Africa, and that the understanding of Mbiti's African conception of time did not necessarily mean an understanding of African philosophical concepts.

This essay concluded that there is the concept of an extended future in Africa and Mbiti should not have based his conclusion from his understanding of the Kikamba culture only, which erroneously led him to the fallacy of hasty generalization with regard to the conceptions of time in Africa.

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION

5.1    Summary

Unfortunately, space considerations do not allow a full consideration of all of the relevant concerns of contextualizing biblical truth in light of the African concept of time. This study is intended only as a basic foundation to the major issues on the African conception of time. The traditional African concept of time will possibly have effects on how we concept time in our day to day activities in Africa. It should be obvious that the task is incredibly complex, and remind us ever anew of the need for the management of our time in directing our steps. Perhaps the danger of doing nothing for fear of making a mistake is the greatest of all dangers, and we must avoid the 'paralysis of analysis' inherent in over-examination of issues. While we do desire to be as usable as possible in our initial contact, we must remember that doing something and learning from the inevitable mistakes made is far better that trying to analyze too much and doing nothing as ·a result. It is hoped that this study will provide a foundation upon which to act and more quickly learn how to properly evaluate the African concept of time and its implications for contextualization of the time in the African context.   5.2    Conclusion

Mbiti’s concept of time no doubt has lots of estimable degrees. Mbiti masterly researched into the concept of time using two languages of Kenya. It follows from the above that to a reasonable sense one can say that the traditional Africans have their own peculiar understanding of the concept of time that differs from that of the West. One can say the Africans value time very much. This is made true from the statement ‘time na money’ (ogebu ego).

Consequently, Mbiti has been criticized on the bases of African time being backward. This is because for the African time to be backward it implies retrogressions in progress and lack of progress in the Africans mindset. Equally for the Africans not to have the conception of future also sounds chords of African’s not bordered about what the future has in stock. But this is not so in existential parlance of Africans for in Africa we see the African man making plans for the far future. This informs why an African man will work hard to earn a living in view of his getting married and having children. All these point to the fact the Africans have the idea of future time and they hold it so dear.

Based on this assessment of Mbiti’s concept of time, I was able tofind out that the Africans have not just in the present times mixed up their indigenous concept of time with the linear western concept of time, but they seem to approximate fully to the western’s conception of time. The Africans to a reasonable extent now label derogatorily the African time as meaning laziness, lateness, sluggishness, etc. and as such Africans are branded as not having the sense of time and not keeping to time. These are influences of the western linear notion of time.

.

A CRITICAL ASSESSMENT OF J.S MBITI’S AFRICANS’ CONCEPTION OF TIME



TYPE IN YOUR TOPIC AND CLICK SEARCH.






RESEARCHWAP.ORG

Researchwap.org is an online repository for free project topics and research materials, articles and custom writing of research works. We’re an online resource centre that provides a vast database for students to access numerous research project topics and materials. Researchwap.org guides and assist Postgraduate, Undergraduate and Final Year Students with well researched and quality project topics, topic ideas, research guides and project materials. We’re reliable and trustworthy, and we really understand what is called “time factor”, that is why we’ve simplified the process so that students can get their research projects ready on time. Our platform provides more educational services, such as hiring a writer, research analysis, and software for computer science research and we also seriously adhere to a timely delivery.

TESTIMONIES FROM OUR CLIENTS


Please feel free to carefully review some written and captured responses from our satisfied clients.

  • "Exceptionally outstanding. Highly recommend for all who wish to have effective and excellent project defence. Easily Accessable, Affordable, Effective and effective."

    Debby Henry George, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, USA.
  • "I saw this website on facebook page and I did not even bother since I was in a hurry to complete my project. But I am totally amazed that when I visited the website and saw the topic I was looking for and I decided to give a try and now I have received it within an hour after ordering the material. Am grateful guys!"

    Hilary Yusuf, United States International University Africa, Nairobi, Kenya.
  • "Researchwap.org is a website I recommend to all student and researchers within and outside the country. The web owners are doing great job and I appreciate them for that. Once again, thank you very much "researchwap.org" and God bless you and your business! ."

    Debby Henry George, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, USA.
  • "Great User Experience, Nice flows and Superb functionalities.The app is indeed a great tech innovation for greasing the wheels of final year, research and other pedagogical related project works. A trial would definitely convince you."

    Lamilare Valentine, Kwame Nkrumah University, Kumasi, Ghana.
  • "I love what you guys are doing, your material guided me well through my research. Thank you for helping me achieve academic success."

    Sampson, University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
  • "researchwap.com is God-sent! I got good grades in my seminar and project with the help of your service, thank you soooooo much."

    Cynthia, Akwa Ibom State University .
  • "Sorry, it was in my spam folder all along, I should have looked it up properly first. Please keep up the good work, your team is quite commited. Am grateful...I will certainly refer my friends too."

    Elizabeth, Obafemi Awolowo University
  • "Am happy the defense went well, thanks to your articles. I may not be able to express how grateful I am for all your assistance, but on my honour, I owe you guys a good number of referrals. Thank you once again."

    Ali Olanrewaju, Lagos State University.
  • "My Dear Researchwap, initially I never believed one can actually do honest business transactions with Nigerians online until i stumbled into your website. You have broken a new legacy of record as far as am concerned. Keep up the good work!"

    Willie Ekereobong, University of Port Harcourt.
  • "WOW, SO IT'S TRUE??!! I can't believe I got this quality work for just 3k...I thought it was scam ooo. I wouldn't mind if it goes for over 5k, its worth it. Thank you!"

    Theressa, Igbinedion University.
  • "I did not see my project topic on your website so I decided to call your customer care number, the attention I got was epic! I got help from the beginning to the end of my project in just 3 days, they even taught me how to defend my project and I got a 'B' at the end. Thank you so much researchwap.com, infact, I owe my graduating well today to you guys...."

    Joseph, Abia state Polytechnic.
  • "My friend told me about ResearchWap website, I doubted her until I saw her receive her full project in less than 15 miniutes, I tried mine too and got it same, right now, am telling everyone in my school about researchwap.com, no one has to suffer any more writing their project. Thank you for making life easy for me and my fellow students... Keep up the good work"

    Christiana, Landmark University .
  • "I wish I knew you guys when I wrote my first degree project, it took so much time and effort then. Now, with just a click of a button, I got my complete project in less than 15 minutes. You guys are too amazing!."

    Musa, Federal University of Technology Minna
  • "I was scared at first when I saw your website but I decided to risk my last 3k and surprisingly I got my complete project in my email box instantly. This is so nice!!!."

    Ali Obafemi, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Niger State.
  • To contribute to our success story, send us a feedback or please kindly call 2348037664978.
    Then your comment and contact will be published here also with your consent.

    Thank you for choosing researchwap.com.